The accession of Ukraine to the European Union is the process through which Ukraine seeks to become a member of the EU. Ukraine applied for membership on 28 February 2022, four days after Russia’s full-scale invasion. The European Council granted Ukraine candidate status on 23 June 2022.

Accession negotiations with Ukraine officially began on 25 June 2024, at the same time as negotiations with Moldova. Candidate status and negotiations are stages in the process; they do not mean that membership has been granted.

At a Brussels meeting reported on 16 October 2026, EU leaders discussed advancing Ukraine’s path to membership, including opening two additional negotiating clusters before the end of the year.